Dimapur: Amid strong oppositions against the upcoming Nagaland assembly election and resolutions not to participate in the poll by various tribe based organisations under Eastern Nagaland People’s Organisation (ENPO)’s jurisdiction due to the issue of ‘Frontier Nagaland’ statehood demand, the Eastern Nagaland Legislators’ Union (ENLU) said its members will contest in the poll.
The decision of the ENLU has contradicted the stands of the tribe based bodies under the ENPO area.
“In an emergency meeting held on January 22, 2023, pertaining to the ENPO resolution to abstain from the 14th Nagaland Legislative Assembly (NLA) election, after a thorough deliberation the house (meeting of the ENLU) resolved to participate in the upcoming general election 2023 since the election has been notified by the ECI on January 18, 2023,” the resolution of the ENLU said.
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Earlier this month, the ENPO had stated that the seven “tribal bodies” of ENPO viz, Chang Khulie Setshang(CKS), Khiamniungan Tribal Council(KTC), Konyak Union(KU), Phom People’s Council (PPC), United Sangtam Likhum Pumji(USLP), Tikhir Tribal Council(TTC), and Yimkiung Tribal Council(YTC) during the emergency meeting held on January 3, at DUDA Guest House, Sovima near Dimapur reiterated to stand on the resolution adopted on August 26 at Hotel Saramati (in Dimapur) and reaffirmation of the same on November 16 ( held in Mon district) and on December 19 (held in Tuensang) whereby “the people of Eastern Nagaland shall not participate in any election process of the state and the center until and unless a separate statehood ‘Frontier Nagaland’ is fulfilled as demanded by the people of Eastern Nagaland through the grassroot.”
It can also be noted here that the Nagaland state cabinet had appealed to the ENPO earlier this month to reconsider the demand for a separate ‘Frontier Nagaland’ state.
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The Nagaland Gaon Burah (village chief) Federation (NGBF) had also stated earlier this month that it “understands the genuine grievances” of Eastern Naga People’s Organisation (ENPO). “The delay by the Government of India in announcing the Naga settlement is co-related to sensitive political and administrative discrepancies in the region over the years. Resolving the Naga political issue and post solution realignments of flawed political and administrative status will fulfill the aspiration of Eastern Nagaland tribes,” the NGBF had also stated.
NNN